Barren not Broken

Jesse and Cindy Mizell have been married for 15 years. They have four children with them and three babies in heaven. Their story includes two early miscarriages, a full-term stillbirth at 39 weeks, and the kind of grief that either destroys a marriage or forges it into something unbreakable. Theirs became the latter.

In this episode of the Barren Not Broken podcast, Jesse and Cindy sit down with Jason and BonnieRuth Rolf and hold nothing back. Jesse talks about being so angry after their second miscarriage that he hid his Bible and changed his radio presets to avoid God entirely. Cindy shares what it was like to learn there was no heartbeat at 39 weeks and then deliver their daughter Candice at home. Together, they walk through how community, worship, and one desperate promise in a parking lot kept their marriage alive.

If you have lost a baby through miscarriage or stillbirth, or if you love someone who has, this episode will remind you that you are not alone, your grief is valid, and your marriage can thrive and not just survive this.

James and Teri Craft, Founders of Marriage Health, will tell you that the biggest mistake of their early marriage wasn't the loss. It was stepping over the loss instead of through it together. It started with a doctor casually and un-empathetically delivering devastating news causing a grief that neither of them knew how to hold. They tried to outrun it; through ministry, through busyness, through looking like everything was okay on the outside. What they couldn't see was that they were becoming strangers to each other in the process.

Nate and Kala Sipple were told they would never have children. Eleven years of infertility, stage four Endometriosis, IVF, embryo loss, and a faith crisis later, they're sitting down with Jason and BonnieRuth Rolf on the Barren Not Broken podcast to share what no one prepared them for...

Infertility and pregnancy loss do not just affect individuals, they shape marriages too. During the week of April 19th we acknowledge Infertility Awareness Week. This episode is in preparation for that week. We are creating intentional space to acknowledge the couples walking through this often unseen journey, and to remind you that you are not alone.

When infertility, pregnancy loss, or failed treatments become part of your story, the pain is not only physical, it is emotional, relational, and spiritual.

Infertility does not just break hearts, it strains marriages. Hope and Kadero Watson share 11 years of trying, loss, IVF, and the quiet fears that can grow in the dark. Then they reveal the question that changed everything, “Do you feel like I would leave you if we could never have kids together?” That moment opened the door to honesty, unity, and a new way to fight the battle, together, not against each other. If infertility has made your marriage feel fragile, this episode gives you words, a plan for check-ins, and hope for staying connected.

In this conversation, Jason and BonnieRuth Rolf sit down with Kimberly Galindo, LPC-S, CST—a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, EMDR Certified Therapist, Certified Sex Therapist, Consultant in Training, and Leadership & Relationship Coach. Together, they explore how navigating infertility, loss, and childlessness often feels like a private and isolating journey.

The Rolf’s share from their own experience how inviting trusted counselors into their story not only helped them stay married but also allowed their relationship to flourish in the midst of grief and unmet expectations. Kimberly brings insight into what it looks like to find the right counselor, debunks common myths around therapy, and reminds us that counseling is not just about “fixing problems,” but about investing in a marriage that is resilient and thriving for the long game.

This episode speaks hope into places that may feel barren, offering practical tools, encouragement, and the reminder that we don’t have to walk this road alone.

Remember no matter the barren places in our lives we do not have to live broken. 

In this deeply vulnerable conversation, Pastors Myles & Dee MacCloskey join the Rolf’s to talk about the complicated intersection of grief, faith, marriage, and healing.

They open up about their journey through unexpected loss, secondary infertility, and miscarriage—and how it tested their marriage, their hearts, and their hope.

But this episode isn’t just about pain. It’s about making space for questions, grace, and God’s faithfulness—even when the road feels long and when we feel lost, God's love always finds us.

About the guests:

In this heartfelt and honest episode, Jason and BonnieRuth share their personal story—24 years of marriage, 19 of those spent navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, and ultimately, childlessness. They open up about the unexpected lessons, the deep pain, and the surprising growth they experienced along the way.

🎙 NEW EPISODE: Keith & Taryn – Love, Loss & the Layers Between 💔➡️💞

Keith and Taryn met in college and have been married since 2015. Their journey includes the joys of raising two beautiful children—and the deep heartbreak of three miscarriages and a season of secondary infertility.

In this powerful episode of Barren Not Broken, they invite us into their story with rare vulnerability. Together, they open up about:

🔸 The emotional toll of secondhand infertility

Whether you’re in the thick of it or walking alongside someone who is, this episode will help you feel seen, understood, and never alone.